tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58326354757448735572018-03-16T04:26:49.925-07:00Innovative: A Word for the WriTeenthe official website and blog of the Innovative miniezine, that entertains, encourages and enlightens WriTeens and those who support themGabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.comBlogger413125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-41715486900161642872010-01-16T14:38:00.000-08:002010-01-16T14:38:32.018-08:00Good-bye and Good Luck!After almost three years in the blogging community, I'm officially closing the blog. I've loved this experience, interviewing so many fabulous authors, emailing such promising teen writers and reviewing the books that gracious publicists have sent my way. I'm not ending my time at <b>Innovative</b>&nbsp;because of lack of subject matter, but for lack of time. College is a new kind of adventure and one to which I need to devote all of my energy.<br /><br />There are too many people to thank: my family and friends who supported the blog when it was an email attachment, the blogging community who helped me get started with ideas and reviews and links, Maria Schneider for spotlighting the blog during her time at <i>Writer's Digest,</i>&nbsp;the teens who were the reason I blogged. I thank Kent Healy for giving me the opportunity to share my story in <i>Chicken Soup: Extraordinary Teens</i>&nbsp;and for expanding the <b>Innovative</b> community.<br /><br />I'll let you know if I attempt any other blog adventures, but otherwise, thanks and good-bye!Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-54274173391442712052009-09-30T19:26:00.000-07:002009-09-30T19:26:49.464-07:00Meeting Shannon HaleSo I have read her blog for four or five years, devoured her books, preached her gospel of fantastic fantasy, spread her good literature like a virus... and finally got to meet her. Shannon Hale, authoress extraordinaire, winner of the Newbery Honor, best-selling writer and wonderful person.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SsQTXpqT3oI/AAAAAAAAAhE/NHK_-bMiLAk/s1600-h/IMG_0966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SsQTXpqT3oI/AAAAAAAAAhE/NHK_-bMiLAk/s320/IMG_0966.JPG" /></a><br /></div>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-81472265084728013532009-09-15T16:51:00.000-07:002009-09-15T16:51:35.184-07:00A Brief Aside: Marley and MeWhat college students do in their nonexistent free time (and you think I'm kidding) is read five-year-old bestsellers that everyone else read before it was popular and quotes on a daily basis.<br /><br /><b>Marley and Me: The Collegiate Perspective</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />I can't review a book that's been made into a movie. It's impossible. But I told myself that I would not cry during this book and found myself devastating the one Kleenex box I packed. John's story of his home life, his kids, his writing and above all his <i>dog</i>&nbsp;was just too heart-breaking for this first-year, however free from homesickness.<br /><br />When in South Florida, John Grogan missed trees and hills and beautiful places. I have trees and hills and beautiful places, but I miss dogs and kids. Not even my dogs and kids. I miss seeing little runny noses and "MOM! I WANT THAT!" and dogs urinating on city property and running up with the most intelligent looks on their faces. There is a world outside of eighteen-year-old scholars; I think I've read about it.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-63088519393454595432009-09-01T07:42:00.000-07:002009-09-01T07:42:00.408-07:00The Bell at Sealey Head: A Review<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">The Bell at Sealey Head</span><div>by Patricia A. McKillip</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In this 2008 release by a World Fantasy Award winner, the inhabitants of sleepy Sealey Head are shaken when a mysterious stranger arrives to inspect the mystical bell that rings every night. His arrival sets off a chain of romances, adventures, discoveries and unravelled secrets full of magic and mayhem.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The best quality of this book is its sense of place. McKillip does a superb job of adding details and story tidbits to make you feel like Sealey Head exists. It's a British-esque town in an unnamed magical land, just enough removed from history to make it fantasy. Her style of writing-- halfway between formality and casual banter-- suits the telling, reminding me of Victorian fairy tales. I quibbled a little with the character developement: none of her protagonists seemed to change. They may get lost or get married or free themselves from an overlord, but inwardly they remained the same. Some of the romantic sections seemed a bit childish.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Overall, this is a stunning fantasy and suited for readers of every age. Don't miss <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Sealey Head</span>, and don't be put off by the "small town" mindset.</div>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-33042180027877917992009-08-31T16:35:00.001-07:002009-08-31T16:35:51.279-07:00Attention Publicists and Authors!I have moved from my home in Virginia to college and therefore have a new mailing address. If you are sending me books or had planned to send me copies, I will still be reviewing but need to give you my new address. Send me an email at innovativeteen@gmail.com.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-48003831040050133322009-08-25T09:59:00.000-07:002009-08-25T09:59:00.378-07:00Carpe Corpus: A Review<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Carpe Corpus</span><div>by Rachel Caine</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is my second attempt into the Morganville Vampire mysteries, and my second failure to finish one. The series is about the very life-and-death struggles featuring Claire, a human, and her vampire and nonvamp friends. Bishop is the Dr. Evil and Shane is the Uber Hottie. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The books aren't horribly written, but the author errs in assuming that their characters are likeable (even Nora Ephron has been faulted for this) and in having a heavy action-based plot. I don't like Claire. I don't care about Amelie and the fate of Morganville. Their behavior is so angst-ridden and tortured that I'm much happier watching Bishop devour them all. The second fault, the action, isn't a real problem for readers looking for a movie-as-book. I hate action movies (how many times can you tear off a leg, race over a roof?) and their only redeeming quality is a loveable hero to keep you interested (Bourne, Bond).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you prefer books with lots of running around and breath-stopping action, try Rachel Caine. If you liked the last fifth of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Twilight,</span> don't miss it. I, however, will be sitting this one out. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Again.</div>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-80327880173817284192009-08-19T17:40:00.000-07:002009-08-19T17:51:29.647-07:00Once a Witch: A Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Once a Witch</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Carolyn MacCullough</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>Tamsin is the witch that should have been. Proclaimed to be the Be-All Witch-All at birth, she has shown no sign of greatness, magical or otherwise. She's content (or pretending to be content) to practice normality at a NYC boarding school while waiting for her perfect older sister to steal the family glory... until a mysterious professor shows up at her grandmother's store and challenges Tamsin to change her future by changing herself.</div><div><br /></div><div>I liked this book. Tamsin is gutsy enough to keep the book interesting, and the reader interested in her. Her old friend Gideon pops up, hot and gentlemanly, and his only fault is that he has none. While I would have liked him to have shown more foibles to balance the other characters, Tamsin and Gideon have fun chemistry. The adventures Tamsin has get a little overdramatic at the end, but are otherwise very enjoyable. MacCullough knows how to pace her book, and how to create a climax. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fans of modern-day Tamera Pierce and all fans of Patricia C. Wrede should look this one up.</div><div><br /></div><div>http://www.amazon.com/Once-Witch-Carolyn-MacCullough/dp/0547223994 <br /></div>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-80331386394724519362009-08-07T13:49:00.001-07:002009-08-07T13:55:59.473-07:00INNOVATIVE goes CHICKEN SOUP!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SnyTzQWwrSI/AAAAAAAAAg8/7yj6ep4I91o/s1600-h/piccie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 161px; height: 250px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SnyTzQWwrSI/AAAAAAAAAg8/7yj6ep4I91o/s400/piccie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367327364691832098" /></a>On page 182, there begins the tale of Gabrielle Linnell's freelancing career and the story of how the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Innovative Teen</span> blog began. First, thanks to all who have supported the blog since its inception, and to the friends we've made along the way.<div><br /></div><div>Second, to celebrate the release on August 18th, I will be moving us out of our summer semi-hiatus with more reviews, hopefully some interviews and thoughts on what we've done and how far we've come.</div><div><br /></div><div>Third, I will be entering <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Wellesley College</span> this fall. I am so excited about that, but it means that Innovative activity will not be five-posts-a-week as we have done in the past. Reviewing and some interviews will continue to happen, but on a hectic college student's schedule.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you, and look for a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Once a Witch</span> review this week.</div>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-11147025630574541142009-07-25T06:11:00.002-07:002009-07-25T06:15:51.297-07:00Review: Simply Irresistible<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Simply Irresistible</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">by Jennifer Banash</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>It's hard to know where to start. The dramatic lives of the new TV show "DeLuxe" are fodder for Banash's latest title. Casey switched boy toys, Madison is fighting domestic change, Phoebe doubts her own feelings, Sophie adopts her birth mother. Banash does a good job of extending and inventing conflict for her series and no one can deny that "The Elite" isn't fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, the characters themselves annoyed me and their lack of definitive action was frustrating. Drew's struggle with his wealth is an intriguing idea but the kid anguishes for the entire novel without any decision. The physical perfection alone in each and every character is surreal: teen girls do not all have aerodynamic metabolisms. I guess my main complaint with the novel is that it doesn't feel like a novel. It reads more like an elongated chapter in a Dickensian epic set in the Upper East Side.</div>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-58275490572730846702009-07-25T06:11:00.001-07:002009-07-25T06:11:49.372-07:00So I've Been Out of the CountryGallivanting around the UK, pilgrimaging in Potter's footsteps, seeing the Sayers sites, etc. For a month. Many reviews to come in the next week or so. Thanks for your patience!Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-10464596213417459132009-05-28T17:21:00.001-07:002009-05-28T17:23:07.012-07:00What's Been HappeningI have copies of <em>Jonas Brothers: The Unofficial Scrapbook, Carpe Corpus, Confidence is Queen! </em>and... something else... which are being read and will be reviewed, no worries.<br /><br />I had my last day of high school today. :S<br /><br />Also, my "Dollar Store Designers" article was featured in this summer issue of <em>Kiki.</em><br /><br />Just so you know. :)Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-32243948627960175532009-05-16T08:19:00.000-07:002009-05-16T08:24:52.042-07:00My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters<strong>My Big Nose (and Other Natural Disasters) by Sydney Salter</strong><br /><br />In this debut novel, Jory has a nose comparable to those on Mount Rushmore and an inferiority complex to match. Determined to change her face (and therefore her life), she gets a summer job to pay for a nose job. Yet through a crazy series of events-- finding love, losing it, finding it, making friends, losing friends, discovering jewelry-- Jory has to rethink her life and what the problems in it really are.<br /><br />The book was cute. There were many positive messages about body image and relationships, which I appreciated and thought were cool. Gideon was absolutely droll and you just wanted to snatch him right out of the book. Jory's incessant self-centeredness, though, was annoying for the first three-quarters. I had the feeling that if Jory was real, I wouldn't be friends with her, and that made reading her story harder. From a writing perspective, Salter had a decently developed point of view and there were few signs of the self-aware style of new writers in the book.<br /><br />Overall: good beach read with positive messages.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-22309779853418613812009-04-30T15:38:00.001-07:002009-04-30T15:42:59.573-07:00The First Best Book of 2009<div align="center"><em>The Reformed Vampire Support Group</em> by Catherine Jinks</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SfopM4GmZhI/AAAAAAAAAg0/Creev3jeMsM/s1600-h/reformed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330618410141640210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 93px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SfopM4GmZhI/AAAAAAAAAg0/Creev3jeMsM/s400/reformed.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div align="left">I loved this. Loved it loved it loved it. BUY IT!<br /></div><div align="left"></div><br />This alternative vamp tale is told through Nina, a permanent 15-year-old whose funny, snarky view of life is clouded by the fact that she doesn't enjoy being a vampire. She has weekly meetings with other Australian down-under hidden-cover bloodeaters in the Reformed Vampire Support Group, but when one of their own is killed with a silver bullet, it's a race to figure out who the killer is, how to save their undead lives and maybe uncover secrets at the same time.<br /><br /><br />I loved Nina, I loved the supporting cast, I loved the whole story. I can't say this enough. Catherine Jinks is a genius (previous novel: <em>Evil Genius</em>) and I worship at her feet. If you're looking for witty, funny, sarcastic vampire tales with a dash of unusual romance and lots of adventure... heck, if you like great books, run out and get this one right now. Or Nina will come and suck your blood.<br /></div>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-7999059238706591362009-04-19T09:52:00.000-07:002009-04-19T10:17:04.165-07:00Bookshelf: Hello to Susane Colasanti!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SetcQVYajTI/AAAAAAAAAgs/4yP41S4Yvqc/s1600-h/susane.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326452419982953778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 87px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SetcQVYajTI/AAAAAAAAAgs/4yP41S4Yvqc/s400/susane.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Susane Colasanti is the author of three novels,</span> When It Happens, Take Me There, <span style="color:#000000;">and</span> Waiting for You. </strong></span><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong></strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> Your titles are awesome: <em>When It Happens,</em> <em>Take Me There</em>, <em>Waiting for You</em>. Did you know all of your titles when you started writing the novels, or did they evolve from many drafts?</span><br /><strong>SC:</strong> Before I started writing books, I always thought that coming up with titles would be the easiest part. I was wrong. It’s much easier for me to write a book than come up with a good title. At least, that was the case with these three books. I knew the title of my fourth book, <em>Something Like Fate</em>, in the early stages of writing it.<br /></div><div>It’s interesting to see how titles evolve. <em>When It Happens</em> was originally called <em>Trust</em> and the plot was different in a few ways. After revising the manuscript, it was clear that <em>Trust</em> didn’t really fit anymore. The original title of <em>Take Me There</em> was <em>My Way Home</em>, but the sales &amp; marketing team didn’t think that was catchy enough. By then, I’d decided that all of my titles would have three words. While I was writing <em>Waiting for You</em>, I knew the title would have to involve waiting in some way, so that title was easier to come up with.<br /></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> Your books often use multiple points of view. What is it like writing from several different perspectives in a single book?<br /></span></div><br /><div><strong>SC:</strong> It’s a lot of fun! When I was a teen reading the limited supply of decent young-adult novels available back then, I was always so frustrated that the author only told one side of the story. If the book involved a main girl and boy character, we only saw the girl’s perspective. I was dying to know the boy’s side of things, like what he talked about with his friends and what he really thought about the girl. I promised myself that if I ever wrote a teen novel, I would tell it from both sides so my readers could know the whole story.<br /></div><br /><div><em>Take Me There</em> was more challenging than <em>When It Happens</em>, since the story involved three different perspectives. Several chapters include scenes that we previously saw from another character’s point of view. I loved using this technique because I could have the reader wondering about certain things the first time they saw a scene, then fill in the blanks when the scene is shown from an alternate perspective. This technique was tricky, though. My obsessive attention to detail came in handy.<br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> Sometimes the grades in high school seem aeons apart, while other times they blur together. Having written characters in several different grades, what do you think makes each grade different for the writer and for the teen?<br /></span></div><br /><div><strong>SC:</strong> I like writing about older characters. I find that time when high school is ending and an entirely different life is beginning the most interesting to explore. However, I wanted to also write a book a bit more accessible to younger readers, so <em>Waiting for You</em> takes place during sophomore year.<br /></div><br /><div>Senior year is the strangest. That’s when you realize that the microcosm you’ve become so familiar with is about to explode. For people like me who hated high school, this is a very good thing and a time for extensive celebration. This is when all of the people you have known forever are about to go their separate ways. You will probably never see most of them (or maybe even any of them) ever again. People who can seem like your whole world one day disappear the next. An interesting dynamic I noticed during my senior year is that people stop caring how you’ve been labeled all those years before and start caring more about who you are. Everyone sort of realized that we’re all distinct people about to start our real lives, not just parts of a larger group. They calm down. They’re nicer. It’s fascinating, really.<br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> How did you break into publication?</span><br /></div><br /><div><strong>SC:</strong> After I read <em>The Outsiders</em> in seventh grade, I had this fantasy about becoming an author. I wanted to inspire other kids the way S.E. Hinton inspired me with the world of Ponyboy Curtis. That book was pure energy to me. I even slept with it under my pillow, wishing for some magical osmosis that might help make my dream a reality one day.<br /><br />The other significant thing that happened when I was 12 was realizing I wanted to be a science teacher. I was a teacher for almost ten years. But I still carried that dream of becoming an author in my heart. While I was in grad school at New York University, I started writing some early pages of <em>When It Happens</em>. I kept writing and soon I had a manuscript. It was rejected by several publishers, but Viking Children’s Books saw something there and wanted to work with me. Now my books sit on my bookshelf next to <em>The Outsiders</em>, all of them with the Viking imprint on the spine. That dream I kept alive for so long has finally become reality.<br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> Do you have a favorite moment from one of your novels?</span> </div><div><br /><strong>SC:</strong> Well, I love the scene in <em>When It Happens</em> with Sara and Tobey where he’s in the car and she’s outside his window and they press their hands together, separated by glass. I always thought that would make an excellent movie moment. I also love the iPod dancing scene on the pier from <em>Take Me There</em>. There’s something about being surrounded by the city lights and energy and night that makes the scene an emotionally powerful one for me.<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> Any advice for teen writers?</span><br /></div><div><strong>SC</strong>: Read. Write. Repeat.<br /></div><br /><div>The more you read, the better your writing becomes. I developed strong skills in my high school English classes (not because I liked them, but because I had outstanding teachers). You definitely have to know the basics of grammar, punctuation, and spelling, so if you’re behind on developing those skills, dedicate time each day to learning. However, it was reading thousands of books that made me a writer. The rhythm of words, the flow of sentences, the intangible essence of a great book – all of these things can only be absorbed by reading.<br /></div><br /><div>If you’re feeling reluctant to write or just uninspired, maybe it’s time to think outside the box. You should be writing for fun because you love it, not feeling like you have to force yourself to write (unless it’s for school, in which case I feel your pain). Write about your passion. Whatever it is that makes you feel alive, write about that. Then, never give up. You can’t fail if you never stop trying.<br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;">Thank you, Susane!! </span></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#006600;">You can find out more about Susane Colasanti and her books on these sites: </div></span><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;">Website:</span> <a href="http://www.susanecolasanti.com/" target="_blank">http://www.susanecolasanti.com/</a><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Blog:</span> <a href="http://windowlight.livejournal.com/" target="_blank">http://windowlight.livejournal.com/</a><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Facebook:</span> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Susane-Colasanti/678479550" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/people/Susane-Colasanti/678479550</a><br /><span style="color:#006600;">MySpace: </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/susanecolasanti" target="_blank">http://www.myspace.com/susanecolasanti</a></div>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-77623877296492119122009-04-10T10:23:00.000-07:002009-04-10T10:33:30.319-07:00Review: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323117045525990722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 85px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/Sd-Cv_RnTUI/AAAAAAAAAgk/7zmbFA4MjjU/s400/1jess.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Where have you been dating?</div><br /><div></div><div>This debut novel by Beth Fantaskey, <em>Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side</em>, tells the tale of a somewhat normal Pennsylvanian teen who finds a Romanian so-called vampire moving into her house, stalking her at the bus stop and announcing that Jessica's his long-lost betrothed, destined to be a vampire princess. Jessica deals with everything from interfering cheerleaders and her own mixed feelings to a vampire war in order to figure out what the problem is, who the hero is and what she wants out of all of this.</div><br /><div>The book was entertaining. With all of this Twilight obsession, it's nice to see the funny side of vampire lore. The first half of the book doesn't take itself seriously, which was a good move by the author, with several funny scenes involving farm boys, horses and school. </div><br /><div></div><div>The second half is much more serious and dramatic (cue vampire war threats), when Jessica has a change of heart about her vampire betrothed while he's changing other hearts. I felt like this didn't completely fit in with the beginning of the novel, giving it an uneven tone. Major vampire drama is hard to pull off (Stephenie Meyer flopped in <em>Breaking Dawn</em>) and I wish the author had kept it set in Pennsylvania and focused on the Lucius-Jessica chemistry instead. </div><br /><div></div><div>The messages Lucius shares about women with Jessica are almost all refreshing (I have differences when it comes to chivalry) and unusual to find in YA lit (not advocating diets? what?!). Readers looking for a fun vampire read will like this one, and I'm interested to see whether the author chooses to write lighter or darker fiction later in her career.</div>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-13646244993445819552009-04-01T15:47:00.000-07:002009-04-01T15:51:23.632-07:00Sophomore Undercover: A ReviewOriginal is the adjective for Ben Esch's <em>Sophomore Undercover.</em> I didn't know what to expect, but what I got was an incredibly personable Vietnamese sophomore with raging hormones and an ironic sense of humor, with Pulitzer-sized dreams and an acid trip for a school. It's a little disjointing until you realize Esch is writing a parody that is, at the same time, the realistic story of a young misguided character.<br /><br />What I admire about the writing is that although this is a debut, Esch has managed to avoid writing cliched sentences. 90-95% of the sentences are Dixie Nguyenisms, unique to his character and perfectly situated. Beyond that, this is outright funny. I wouldn't recommend it for those who only do family-wholesome humor but for any high schooler, it's a riot. I look forward to reading Esch's next work, and meanwhile comment to win a copy of <em>Sophomore Undercover!</em>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-67964134391386304032009-03-29T18:07:00.000-07:002009-03-29T18:20:32.955-07:00Bookshelf: Interview with Lisa Yee!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SdAeMj87-XI/AAAAAAAAAgc/eNFFCICDFo0/s1600-h/lisayee.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318784361082648946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 136px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SdAeMj87-XI/AAAAAAAAAgc/eNFFCICDFo0/s400/lisayee.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="color:#000000;">With the publication of <span style="color:#006600;">Millicent Min, Girl Genius</span>, Lisa has realized her lifelong dream of becoming an author. The winner of the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award, there are over 300,000 copies of MILLIE in print. Lisa's second novel, <span style="color:#006600;">Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time</span> won the Chinese American Librarian Association Best Book of the Year award, and was named an American Library Association Notable Book. Lisa was also named the 2007 Thurber House Children's Author-in-Residence. Her third novel, <span style="color:#006600;">So Totally Emily Ebers</span> came out in 2007 and so did <span style="color:#006600;">Good Luck, Ivy</span>, an American Girl historical novel. Lisa Yee's most recent novel is </span><span style="color:#006600;">Absolutely Maybe. - <a href="http://www.lisayee.com/">www.lisayee.com</a> </span></strong><p><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> <em>Absolutely Maybe</em> features a cross-country road trip, crazy charm school mothers and Hollywood quests for unknown dads. Where did you find the idea for this novel-- or multiple ideas?</span></p><br /><p><strong>LY:</strong> The original title was CHARM SCHOOL DROPOUT and it was a much different book--lighter and for a much younger crowd. Then I started writing and even though I worked from an outline, the characters sort of hijacked the story. I always write my endings first, so at least I knew where we were headed. But some of the side trips surprised me.<br /><br />Initally, I planned for the book to take place in thirds. The first being in Kissimmee, FL where a goth girl grows up with a ex-beauty pageant queen mom. I thought a road trip would be fun because I once drove across country with my best friend Henry. And then I wanted Maybelline (she calls herself Maybe) to land in Hollywood, the way Dorothy landed in Oz. Only, as I began to write, the LA/Hollywood part sort of took over, and I cut way back on the other two parts.<br />My struggle with writing is never lack of ideas, but having too many. In the deleted many subplots because it made Maybe's story meander. (However, I've saved them and they may appear in another book!)<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> If Maybe had her own TV show, what would it be called and what would it be about?</span></p><br /><p><strong>LY:</strong> Oooh, great question! Hmmm . . . I know! It would be called TIPS 'n' TACOS WITH MAYBE. She would help people solve their problems. Plus, Maybe would figure out what kind of taco would make them feel better, and cook it for them.</p><br /><p><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> You've written very successfully for middle grade/middle school readers with <em>Millicent Min, Girl Genius</em> and the sequels with Stanford Wong and Emily Ebers: what was the transition to writing YA like?</span></p><br /><p><strong>LY:</strong> It was heaven. With YA there are no constraints either with topic or language. I felt a freedom writing Maybe's story that I hadn't felt before. I loved every minute of it.<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> I'm a huge American Girl fan: can you talk about writing <em>Good Luck, Ivy</em>?</span></p><br /><p><strong>LY:</strong> American Girl approached me about writing a historical fiction. At first I said no, because I don't really write that sort of thing. But when I found out it was set in 1974, I was shocked! To me, that doesn't seem so long ago because I was alive then. Finally, I agreed to do it and had a great time. The story is set in San Francisco, so they sent me there to research. I said, "I really think there needs to be a scene that takes place at the Ghiradelli Chocolate Factory." And they said, "Well then, you should go there." And I thought, "Oh yeah!"<br /><br />It was really weird/cool seeing the Ivy Ling doll. And the book and doll were on Oprah, so that was <em>tres</em> exciting.<br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong></strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> What's up next?</span><br /><strong></strong></p><p><strong>LY:</strong> I have a chapter book series that will debut in September. The first book is called BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY) and the illustrator is the talented Dan Santat. He has a Disney Channel cartoon called THE REPLACEMENTS.<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> Any advice for teen writers?</span><br /><br /><strong>LY:</strong> Read, read, write, read, write and read some more. Every book you read is like getting a free writing class. If you love a book, reread it for style, pacing, plot, etc. And write all the time. It doesn't have to be stories, e-mails, journals, letters, they all count. Also, don't just write what you know, but write what you want to know. Explore. Have fun.</p><div><strong>Find out more about Lisa Yee at </strong><a href="http://www.lisayee.com/"><strong>www.lisayee.com</strong></a><strong>.</strong></div>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-46698466141637150272009-03-19T13:58:00.000-07:002009-03-19T14:07:23.886-07:00Deadline ContemplationsI'm working hard on an article assigned weeks ago... that of course I haven't started until recently. Due Friday. Procrastination is part of my teenage nature, and therefore natural. However, while I procrastinate, I contemplate to prevent this situations...<br /><br /><strong>Commit to an earlier date.</strong> If your deadline is April 1st, email your editor and let her know you will be done the article by March 25th. Sound insane? It probably is, but it means you will be in the editor's good graces and not emailing the article at 11:59pm on April 1.<br /><br /><strong>Use your query as an outline.</strong> I love copying and pasting the original query to keep myself on track, and remember what I promised to deliver to my editor. It keeps any unexpected tangents from taking over the piece.<br /><br /><strong>Put your dates in your normal agenda.</strong> I have little reminders about this article next to my Calculus homework and weekend plans. It's one way to keep it together in the midst of a crazy senior semester, twelve days from college decisions...Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-49994855848886383642009-03-18T15:46:00.001-07:002009-03-18T15:47:47.831-07:00Sophomore Undercover Giveaway!I was given an extra copy of the FABULOUS <strong>Sophomore Undercover </strong>by Ben Esch<strong>.</strong> Fans of John Green gone wacky and biting, funny other comic writers will enjoy this one. If you want a free copy, please:<br /><br />1. Live in the United States of America<br />2. Comment and tell me <strong>what your thoughts on Sophomores are</strong><br />3. Do so by April 8th, 2009<br /><br />Have fun and comment!Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-78711568143696774992009-03-15T18:27:00.001-07:002009-03-15T18:29:01.756-07:00So, the Blogger had a Mental Health Week...And completely flubbed the dates.<br /><br />I apologize. If you're a second semester senior in a competitive school with acceptances and rejections flying about your ears, you will understand but it's no excuse.<br /><br />SO!<br /><br /><strong>Lisa Yee</strong> will be coming in 2 weeks.<br /><br />The review of <strong>Sophomore Undercover</strong> will come this week along with details on our 2 upcoming giveaways.<br /><br />I will be uploading some more posts on publishing. :) And enjoy, hopefully, a less insane seven days.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-2491455032614875962009-03-05T17:40:00.000-08:002009-03-05T17:44:14.009-08:00News from the Blogging World<strong>Susan McBride</strong> has re-designed her website at <a href="http://www.susanmcbride.com/">www.susanmcbride.com</a>. All you <strong>Debs</strong> fans go and check it out!<br /><br /><strong>Orb28</strong>, the lovely ladies' blog I've been guesting at for several months, is sadly closing due to the turn of events that are turning many people's lives at the moment. Go over to <a href="http://www.orb28.blogspot.com/">www.orb28.blogspot.com</a> until March 14 to say your goodbyes.<br /><br /><strong>Ben Esch</strong>'s "Sophomore Undercover" was hilarious and I will be posting a review of it this Saturday. I have a copy to give away as well as a copy of <strong>Lord of Misrule</strong> because I can't finish the darn book. Details on Friday.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-51412232547804180642009-02-28T13:41:00.000-08:002009-02-28T13:59:32.453-08:00Bookshelf: Welcome to Micol Ostow!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SamzTk4JJgI/AAAAAAAAAgU/l95V5wqot2g/s1600-h/1micol.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307970784730883586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 85px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 128px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SamzTk4JJgI/AAAAAAAAAgU/l95V5wqot2g/s400/1micol.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Micol Ostow</span> is half Puerto Rican, half Jewish, half student, half writer, half chocolate, half peanut butter. When she is under deadline, she is often half asleep. She believes that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts except in the case of Chubby Hubby ice cream. She lives in New York City where she reads, runs, and drinks way too much coffee. - <a href="http://www.micolostow.com/">www.micolostow.com</a> </strong><br /><br /> <span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> You have written many books for teens, spanning diverse topics: from high school politics in <em>Popular Vote</em> to the Simon Pulse romantic comedies like <em>Crush du Jour</em> and <em>30 Guys in 30 Days</em> and even ethnic heritage in <em>Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa</em>. What inspires you to write about such different scenarios?</span><br /><div><br /><strong>MO:</strong> Hmm...when you put it that way--maybe I just have a short attention span! Ha! Seriously, though, I have always had a broad range of interests and I love to read all kinds of books-- from chick lit, to thrillers, to literary fiction, and I think my writing reflects that. I'm very, very lucky that I have editors who encourage me to stretch and explore all of my areas of interest. And each project teaches me something new about myself. "Emily" was heavily based on my own experiences getting to know my Puerto Rican family, and I think it was a story that I always had inside of me. My graphic novel project due out this summer, "So Punk Rock," talks about life in a Jewish day school. </div><br /><div></div><div>And of course, with "Bradford," I'm able to access my love of pop culture and the whole extended online community. The hardest part is balancing all of my deadlines and occasionally having to switch back and forth between projects very quickly--that can result in a bit of split personality and can be crazy-making. The truth is that not all of my readers will respond to all of my books. But if I keep publishing (knock wood) across a broad range of genres and topics, hopefully, there will be a Micol Ostow book out there for everyone.<br /></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> Have you always wanted to write books? If so, how is your present career different or similar to what you imagined?</span><br /></div><br /><div><strong>MO:</strong> I have always, always, always wanted to write books. My summer camp bunkmates and I used to create the back cover copy to the Sweet Valley novels we were going to write when we grew up (okay, dork alert. You've got me. But hey--I knew where my talents lay). That being said, I never DREAMED that one day people would actually pay me to write the type of books that I love to read, and therefore, I took a very sensible job as a YA book editor when I graduated college. I loved that job (true story: I was an editor at Simon Pulse, which is just one of the many reasons why I adore publishing with them now--they're like family to me), and had no plans of leaving to write. But people knew that I was interested in writing and some opportunities came up, and literally, one thing led to another...</div><br /><div></div><div>Eventually, I realized that I wouldn't be able to give 100% to my editing and 100% to my writing, so for now, at least, the writing has won out. But we'll see what the future holds. I guess you could say that my present is different than what I imagined in that I honestly never dreamed I would be able to do exactly what I've always wanted to do. I'm a lucky lucky girl.<br /></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> Your new series The Bradford Novels releases its first title, <em>GoldenGirl</em>, this January. What would you like to tell readers about this series?<br /></span></div><br /><div><strong>MO:</strong> <em>GoldenGirl</em> and Bradford follow in the well-trod tradition of private school "mean girl lit," but I like to think that several things really set it apart. Firstly, I *hope* that the voice is one that readers will find distinct, funny, tongue-in-cheek, unique, etc.,etc., etc. But what is especially awesome about Bradford--and what really drew me to the project from the start--is the entire online "experience" that it offers to readers. I don't believe there's been anything like this in YA publishing yet. Sure, we've had dedicated websites for books and series, and Facebook accounts and that sort of thing. </div><br /><div></div><div>But BradfordNovels.com offers you a huge network, and a chance to really experience the stories and the characters from new perspectives once you've actually finished with the books. You can read about the series, yeah, but you can also email the characters, visit their profile pages, follow them on twitter, and read new blogs in real time (one character, for instance, is a fashion designer, and you can bet she'll have a lot of opinions come Oscar night). You might find a tertiary character in the books whose online blog reveals an entire subplot involving a clique you were only peripherally aware of. And you can check out the websites of many of the locations we've created in the books. </div><br /><div></div><div>So basically everything you'll find online is meant to enhance and build on your experience of reading the books, as opposed to merely supplementing it. Teens--and writers!--are more plugged in than ever, and I think it will be very exciting to see how we react to a book series that responds to the ways in which we express ourselves and communicate today.<br /></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> What is it like writing a series, as opposed to individual novels?</span><br /></div><br /><div><strong>MO:</strong> The self-employed businesswoman in me will tell you that it's comforting to know you've got three titles slated for the upcoming year. But the truth is that the process of writing a book is much more ephemeral than most people realize. For instance, the first draft of the graphic novel project I mentioned, "So Punk Rock," was turned in to my editor literally a year ago, and won't be out until July. There's a lot of downtime in between projects for a writer. So what I love about a series is the chance to spend more time with my characters, as opposed to merely sending the manuscript off to my editor and saying goodbye for, if not forever, at least a good chunk of time. </div><br /><div></div><div>I feel more grounded and in turn feel like I have a chance to get to know my characters and watch them grow and evolve. And of course, with Bradford, there's *always* something going on--if we're not working on the book, then my editors and I are creating online content, thinking about web design, plotting out story arcs...I'm always knee-deep in Bradford and I like the feeling of working on something solid and all-consuming that way. It helps me to combat that split personality that I mentioned above that comes from having my hands in lots of different projects at any given time.<br /></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> As a huge Grace Kelly fan, I'm guessing that Spencer Grace Kelly's name is not an accident (if so, a wonderful coincidence!) Why did you choose to connect the glamorous icon with the main character in <em>GoldenGirl</em>?</span><br /></div><br /><div><strong>MO:</strong> Not an accident at all! She is meant to be a distant relative of Grace Kelly's (who was originally from Philadelphia, and therefore a local icon). Grace Kelly is the epitome of style and, as you say, glamour, that we associate not only with the series, but also with Spencer, who is by all accounts the "Grace Kelly" (that is, the golden girl) of Bradford Prep.<br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> Any advice for teen writers?</span><br /></div><div><br /><strong>MO:</strong> The best advice--and what seemed to work for me--is to read everything you can get your hands on, and to keep writing. Writing isn't about being published (though that's always fun too)--it's about sitting your butt in your chair and *writing.* It's harder than it sounds, but it's worth it!... THANKS!<br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> Thank you so much!</span></div>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-48249414285899279492009-02-23T17:29:00.000-08:002009-02-23T17:33:40.122-08:00You Know You Want To...Check out <strong>Micol Ostow</strong> when she comes to <strong>Innovative</strong><em> </em>this Saturday, February 28!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.micolostow.com/">www.micolostow.com</a>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-91007823251879873952009-02-17T17:05:00.000-08:002009-02-17T17:06:03.318-08:00May I Recommend Some Good Books?Have to run, but--<br /><br /><strong>The Blind Assasin</strong> by Margaret Atwood<br /><br /><strong>The Time Traveler's Wife</strong> by Audrey Niffenegger (Niffennegger?)<br /><br /><strong>The Thirteenth Tale</strong> by Diane Setterfield<br /><br />are all completely, 100% worth your time.<br /><br />They are why we write.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5832635475744873557.post-48522462552000816112009-02-15T18:46:00.001-08:002009-02-15T18:56:50.153-08:00Holiday Bookshelf: Chatting with Ben Esch<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SZjVgkSl6JI/AAAAAAAAAgM/Qgw5QEkSnvU/s1600-h/1ben.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303223316702947474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DCu4XEsz6IM/SZjVgkSl6JI/AAAAAAAAAgM/Qgw5QEkSnvU/s400/1ben.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">While writing <span style="color:#006600;">Sophomore Undercover </span>(in bookstores February 24), <span style="color:#006600;">Ben Esch</span> slept on a fold-out sofa in his parents' basement, gained thirty pounds, and developed a crippling fear of raccoons. The author did not date much during this period. Ben now lives in Los Angeles and sleeps in an actual bed. Chase your dreams, kids.</span> </strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> What inspired the unorthodox, unusual character of Vietnamese high school reporter and nerd, Dixie Nguyen?<br /></div></span><br /><div><strong>BE:</strong> Dixie came from a couple of inspirations. First of all, I grew up in a small town in Northern California that was pretty homogeneous (homogeneous = chock full of white people). There was a Vietnamese kid in my high school class, and I used to think it looked interesting to see him walk around campus, completely surrounded on all sides by a bunch of huge, hickish white dudes. One day I got to thinking: what if he had an adventure?</div><br /><div>As for the personality of Dixie Nguyen...well, to be perfectly honest, I'm not exactly sure how I came up with that. I guess I from the school of writing that when you write a character, you're basically writing about yourself. So, I suppose that means there's a fairly big chunk of the character that's me. A much more clever, adventurous, and slightly less of a big, goofy white guy version of me, but still me nevertheless. This fiction stuff is fun. </div><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">-<br /></span><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> Dixie uncovers a drug scandal involving high school athletes. How did you approach this topic-- through research, asking teens, memories of your own high school experience or something else?</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div><strong>BE:</strong> Though <strong>Sophomore Undercover</strong> took a lot of inspiration from my own time in high school, there was never a drug scandal in the football team. At least not that I'm aware of. No, let's just go ahead and say there wasn't a drug scandal. I just made up the drug scandal thing. Again, fiction is fun.</div><br /><div>In terms of the rest of the story, I didn't really do any specific research until the book had gone through a few drafts, and even then, the "research" was just me walking around my old high school campus at night to remind myself where the buildings were. So, I got off pretty easy on this book. Unless you count the four years I went to the high school as research. In that case, I researched the hell out of this thing.<br /><span style="color:#006600;"><br /><strong>INN:</strong> If Dixie had his own game show, what celebrity would he choose to be the Vanna White and why?</span> </div><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span><br />BE: That's a good question...I've spent a lot of time thinking about this and I think he'd probably go with one of the cute but somewhat nerdy girls from that G4 channel (I'm all about that Ninja Warrior show, by the way) so let's go with Kristin Holt, maybe? Of course, I'm guessing that Dixie would spent most of his time staring at his feet and stammering if he was around anyone that pretty, so that would probably hurt the game show a bit...<br /></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> The ultimate question: how did your book break into print?</span><br /></div><br /><div><strong>BE:</strong> Well, the first step was writing a book. An underrated, but essential part of the process.<br />The second step was finding an agent. There's a lot of stuff on the internet on how to go about doing this, so I won't get into the more boring details about how all that works.<br /></div><br /><div>The third step was working with the agent (Steven "I look uncannily like David Blaine" Malk) to make the book I wrote actually make sense. Turns out that most publishers are looking for something like that, which was a bit of a shock at the time. Anyway, we worked together for about seven months, I knocked off a hundred pages or so, learned quite a bit about writing, and in the end we had something that he thought we could sell.<br /></div><br /><div>The fourth step was selling the book. This was a rough couple of weeks, but in the end Disney-Hyperion was into the book and we were into Disney-Hyperion. Everybody at Disney-Hyperion is remarkably cool, by the way. And I'm not just saying that because they pay me. I mean, the money thing doesn't hurt, but they're still really nice regardless.<br /></div><br /><div>And that's how my book got into print.<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> What's up next in your writing career?</span><br /></div><br /><div><strong>BE:</strong> Well, the first thing up is the release of my book, "Sophomore Undercover" on February 24th which is equal parts exciting and terrifying. So, that's been taking up most of my time. I should probably tell you guys to go to my website: <a href="http://www.benjaminesch.com/">http://www.benjaminesch.com/</a>. Oh, and we just got the <strong>Sophomore Undercover</strong> video game launched which is a guaranteed good way to waste five minutes. (<a href="http://www.benjaminesch.com/1/post/2009/01/the-sophomore-undercover-video-game.html">http://www.benjaminesch.com/1/post/2009/01/the-sophomore-undercover-video-game.html</a>)<br /></div><br /><div>And after that...well, I'm under contract for another book with Disney-Hyperion that should be coming out in the Summer of 2010. So I should probably get cracking on finishing that.<br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>INN:</strong> Any advice for teen writers?</span><br /></div><br /><div><strong>BE</strong>: Three things:<br />1. Try to remember this time in your life. The stuff that you are going to be obsessed with for the rest of your life (for better or worse) is going to happen during your teenage years, and like it or not, this is the stuff that you're probably going to end up writing about. There's just way too much exciting stuff happening in your life right now for you to not remember it and use for creative fodder down the line. Keep a journal, hold onto your yearbooks, make a scrapbook...just make sure you remember it.<br /></div><br /><div>2. Write the story that you want to read. This is pretty much the only advice I feel qualified to give to any other writer. The neat thing about being a writer is that you get to craft the exact kind of story that you are interested in/want to read. I know it's tempting to try to write something that is popular, but if you're not really writing something that you're passionate about, it's going to show in the final product.<br /></div><br /><div>3. Read. And this just isn't to get you guys to read my book...but you know, it would be pretty awesome if you guys would read my book, actually. The best education you can have as a writer is reading. Read everything. I can't emphasize this enough. READ. Sorry I had to go all caps on you guys there, but I'm really serious about this. </div><br /><div></div><div><span style="color:#006600;">Thanks so much!</span></div><br /><div></div><div>Learn more about <strong>Sophomore Undercover</strong> and Ben Esch at <a href="http://www.benjaminesch.com/">http://www.benjaminesch.com/</a>. </div>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11476963043474402248noreply@blogger.com4